Ireland's top agility dog, Indiana Bones, has hit 'paws' on her competitive agility career following one final performance representing Ireland at Crufts earlier this month.
While the 10-year-old rescue collie, affectionately known as Indy, and her trainer Laura Murphy did not take home the trophy, the pair have had an illustrious journey to the top.
However, it was not always this way.
Laura explained: "Indy was handed into a rescue in a Tesco Bag For Life when she was only eight weeks old
"And the woman asked for the bag back."
But Indy landed on her feet because she was adopted from Northwest SPCA in Ballina in Co Mayo by Laura and brought to her new home in Wicklow.
Agility was already part of Laura's life at this point, and she hoped that Indy, being a border collie, would be able to fit into that world.
"She was a pet first and foremost, so if she didn’t like agility, we would have found something else for her," Laura said.
And at first, it seemed she might stay a pet.
"When we first went to our puppy classes, she just kept falling asleep.
"But then when she was six or seven months old, it was like a switch just turned on in her head. And then it was like she was born to do it," Laura said.
She explained that as long as you figure out what motivates each individual dog, then they can all become good agility dogs.
For Indy that motivation comes in the form of tennis balls and if she does her agility training, she gets her tennis ball.
As the duo began to enter competitions, it soon became clear that Indiana Bones was no ordinary dog and despite a wobbly start, she soon found her paws in the world of agility.
"She was a little bit wild in competition at first because she's a very fast dog", Laura said, adding that they got "eliminated left, right and centre for the first couple of years."
But, she said, once she was able to harness a lot of Indy's speed, they started to win.
Indy has been the top agility dog in Ireland for the past four years and represented Ireland at Crufts on four occasions.
"No Irish dog has done that before, so, in my eyes, she's made history," Laura said.
However, this is not just a passion project for her trainer.
Laura has been training Indy while running her agility training centre, Waggymamas Agility, based in Co Wicklow, for the last eight years, where they offer classes in basic agility, tricks, and doggy manners.
Karen O'Rourke is an agility competitor who attends Waggymamas with her three dogs and said she has been "hooked" since starting her classes with Laura.
"I rescued a dog and within a few weeks, it was obvious this dog needed a job.
"Then I was introduced to Laura and we went out there (Waggymamas) and the dogs were having fun and exercising at the same time," Karen said.
She has continued her training at Waggymamas and is now winning at competitions.
"My dogs aren't going to be like Indy, but they'll get close to it, so it's, I suppose, offering me the chance of being there and experiencing it at least," Karen explained.
So, what's next for Ireland’s top agility dog and for her trainer?
Firstly, Laura intends to continue training dogs for competition.
"I kind of have two young prospects that are coming up," Laura said.
"Harper is like my middle child, she's very fast and very talented, but she's also just a little bit wild, so anything could happen when she goes in there. And then Ross is a year younger and he's a lurcher.
"He's not as talented as his big sisters, but he does really try hard," Laura added.
For Indy, she is not retiring completely just yet as she is just going to 'bark' up a new tree.
"Indy is also an actress, and Indy has the time for life on set and on her different projects," Laura said.
"She'll keep going as an actor and then of course just being the best dog in Ireland in my eyes, no matter what."
What is clear is that when it comes to Indiana Bones, there is life in the old dog yet.
